Convert

The CONVERT FILES function provides a collection of utilities for transferring data between Surpac and other software packages used in the mining industry.

To run this function: Choose File > Convert, or...

In the Function Chooser, type CONVERT FILES, and press ENTER.

DXF TOOLS	ARC/INFO Interface	RUNGE Mining Interface
DTM to DXF	Shapefile to String	Talpac Interface
DXF to STR	String to Shapefile	XPAC Polygons from Strings
PF to DXF
STRING to DXF		MISCELLANEOUS
MOSS INTERFACE	DATAMINE INTERFACE	Import from Microlynx
Export to MOSS	Export to Datamine	Import from CMS
Import from MOSS	Import from Datamine	Binary <> Text
		String Consolidate

The conversion utilities include:

DXF TOOLS

DXF format files are ASCII files designed to allow easy interchange of graphical data between CAD systems. This module is provided to allow you to convert string files, DTM files and plot files into .dxf format.

The `.dxf' files can then be taken into a CAD system such as AutoCAD or a GIS system such as ArcInfo that accepts `.dxf' files. You may then operate on the data using special facilities within that system, such as adding annotations or symbols and shading.

ARC/INFO Interface

ARC/INFO is a Graphical Information System (GIS) which is widely used for the storage, retrieval and reporting of geographical and attribute data for Earth Resource Industries. The functions provided here provide a bi-directional interface between ARC/Info and the GEOVIA family of software products.

The Arc/INFO tools are the means by which both ARC/INFO and Arc View files can be converted to a from string files. The interface works via shapefiles.

Shapefiles can be directly used by Arc View, while ARC/INFO provides both shape-to-coverage and coverage-to-shape data translators.

A shapefile consists of a main file, an index file, and a dBASE table, all of which must have the same prefix. The suffix for the main file is `.shp'. The suffix for the index file is `.shx'. The suffix for the dBASE table is `.dbf'.

The main `.shp' file contains information which describes a shape with a list of its vertices. The dBASE `.dbf' file contains feature attributes, one record for each shape feature. The index `.shx' file contains indices for shape features in the main `.shp' file.

All the shapes in a shapefile are required to be of the same shape type. The different shape types are:

Point
A Point shapefile feature consists of a pair of X, Y coordinates.
Arc
A shapefile Arc feature consists of a number of PolyLines. A PolyLine is an ordered set of points. Each PolyLine is referred to as a part of the Arc.
Polygon
A Polygon shapefile feature consists of a number of Rings. A Ring is a closed, non-self intersecting loop. A Polygon may contain multiple outer Rings. The order of vertices (points) for a Ring indicates which side of the Ring is inside the polygon. As for Surpac, the neighborhood to the right of an observer walking along the Ring in vertex order is the neighborhood inside the polygon. All Rings must be closed and no Rings of a polygon may intersect, although the Rings may touch each other at vertices.
MultiPoint
A MultiPoint shapefile feature consists of a number of pairs of X, Y coordinates.

Runge Mining Interface

Runge Mining is an Australian software company which develops and markets specialised software for Truck and Loader fleet planning and Mine Scheduling. The functions provided here permit string data to be converted into a format appropriate for use by the Runge Mining products TALPAC and XPAC.

MOSS Interface

MOSS is a civil engineering design package that is used by Government Road Authorities and Consulting Engineers throughout the world.

This function allows you to convert strings generated in Surpac to be converted into MOSS strings and vice-a- versa.

There are a number of limitations in these functions including:

negative coordinate sets will not be handled in either function. If you have negative co-ordinates in Surpac you can use the STRING MATHS function to add values to the X and Y coordinates to make them positive numbers.
only information from one description field can be translated into MOSS 4D files.
if you want to convert MOSS strings greater than 4D to Surpac, then the X, Y and Z co-ordinates will be transferred and any other information will be stored in the description field.
if no minor option 003 is encountered, then the standard convention of (I3,3A4,F8.3,2F10.3,F8.3,2F10.3,F8.3) will be used to read in the information from minor option 008 (String label, Sub reference, Contour level, Origin X, Origin Y, Dimension, X string end, Y string end, Horizontal optimising tolerance)
origin data stored in fields 5 and 6 of minor option 008 are not used at all in either function.
bearing discontinuities are also treated as the start of a new string segment. The point that has negative X and Y is treated as the last point of a segment.
the coordinates in the MOSS string file are assumed to be in the correct order i.e. X, Y, Z

Datamine interface

Datamine is a software package used in the mining industry. The functions provided in the Datamine interface permit the transfer of Surpac string and DTM data to and from Datamine software.